Arsenal: 3 risks with modified 4-3-3 system

The season continues in exhilarating fashion with upsets and shock scorelines aplenty, all the while Arsenal have to sit back and watch on as Liverpool and Chelsea contest in the League Cup final.

But it’s a weekend left to savour, not sulk. Coming from behind to beat Wolves 2-1 at the Emirates on Thursday night was one of the more special evenings the stadium has had since its construction, with an atmosphere far exceeding any the noise levels seen in recent seasons.

Mikel Arteta has got his side playing a brand of football that is carving out chances galore, forcing the issue onto the opponent, and prompting greater levels of dominance across the 90 minutes.

No longer do Arsenal go full throttle for 20 minutes in each half, they now play their game from the first whistle to the last.

Arsenal: 3 risks with Mikel Arteta’s modified 4-3-3 formation that has Partey playing as a lone No. 6 with Xhaka and Odegaard as No. 8’s

Formations means less in modern football with individual roles more important than a pre-determined position, although Arsenal are fluctuating between systems throughout matches, more often than not resembling a 4-3-3 at present.

This system allows the team to be more balance going forward, with Thomas Partey less inclined to lean on a left-sided bias, while it also sees them to create 3v3 situations in wide areas and match their opponents numerically.

There are huge benefits to this change, those which have been transferred into results with Arsenal losing just one of their previous nine Premier League matches.

It isn’t without risks, though – like every formation, system or tactical approach – three of which stand out.

1. Defensive Responsibility on Wide Forwards

One of if not the primary reason for Arsenal fielding duel No. 8’s is with an emphasis on controlling and dominating matches more than they were previously. It’s working.

Having Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard forming trios with the wide players on either side in the half-spaces means Arsenal have bodies in the right area to retain possession and keep circulating the ball. They want to pin teams back, not let them get out and keep pounding down on them until the net, or their spirits, break.

The counter-attack is always on for the opposition, though.

There is no risk without reward and committing more players forward into these areas leaves the team more exposed, thus placing more defensive responsibility on the wide forwards to protect their full-backs if the ball is turned over.

Emile Smith Rowe is still developing this area of his game, but he like the others has to be on his bike to cover his defenders when the single pivot has to cut lanes in central areas. No two counter-attacks are the same but managing these defensive transitions is a crucial aspect of this shape, with reduced solidity centrally meaning lateral movements will leave gaping holes centrally.

The wide players have their work cut out.

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